New deals signed for Covid-19 vaccines

THE UK Government has signed deals for 90 million doses of promising Covid19 vaccines, with more in the pipeline.

The latest deal is for vaccines being developed by an alliance between the pharmaceutical giants BioNtech and Pfizer as well as the firm Valneva.

This is in addition to 100 million doses of a vaccine being developed by Oxford University with AstraZeneca.

Kate Bingham, chairwoman of the UK Vaccine Taskforce, said she is hopeful of a vaccine by the end of the year but added she would not “go to the bank on it yet”.

She also said the goal of the taskforce was “to find vaccines for the UK, but also to ensure any successful vaccine is distributed across the globe”.

She said: “We’re not pursuing a strategy of vaccine nationalism. We are recognising this is a global pandemic and we need to ensure the globe – and all those who need it – are vaccinated.”

The Government is aiming to build a portfolio of potential vaccines, alongside effective treatments.

The latest announcement is for 30 million doses of a vaccine from BioNTech/ Pfizer, 60 million doses from Valneva, with an option to acquire a further 40 million doses if needed.

If the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine is shown to work, regulatory review could be sought as early as October, with up to 100 million doses potentially manufactured by the end of the year.

The Government has also signed a deal with AstraZeneca for one million doses in principle of a treatment containing Covid-19 neutralising antibodies. This could protect those who cannot receive vaccines, such as people with cancer or whose immune system is severely compromised.

A new NHS Covid-19 vaccine research registry has also been established with the aim of recruiting 500,000 volunteers by October to test new vaccines and treatments.

Valneva has a factory in Livingston and the Government is expected to contribute to expanding it.